Choose Joy

This past week I read devotions from a couple different books.  Interestingly, they both had the message of being joyful. Instantly, I could feel a nudging in my spirit.

Heading back to school this past Tuesday marked a full and busy schedule once again.  Both kids are already involved in their sports and practices.  The first volleyball game is tomorrow.  Craig is constantly busy with work.  When one holiday ends, the next one immediately begins in the retail business.  And I have already started to fill our house with music in different languages and genres. 

With this busyness, comes the emotions, the tiredness, the feeling of needing to take a breath.  The busyness also comes with dread, complaints, and grudges.

But God doesn't want us to live a life full of dread.  He doesn't want us to be tired all the time.  He wants us to live a happy life, a life fulfilled, and take time to rest in Him and his comfort. God wants us to find joy in all that we do, even the littlest things.

It's so easy to take for granted the daily routines and responsibilities.  It's easy to go through a day full of complaints instead of thanks.  But by doing so, we rob ourselves of the joy that we can experience in these mundane tasks. 

Not everyday will be great and trials and tribulations will still come our way.  Even people can take away our happiness.  But in those moments, we have to make the conscious effort to find that joy.  And joy is contagious. 

So as God was speaking to me this week, and as part of living a life fulfilled, I made a conscious effort to be joyful.  I was happy to meet new people, I was excited to learn new things about music that I did not know even existed, and I was very thankful for the home routine of practices, cooking dinner, and finding those moments of quality time with the family. 

I can complain and dread it all or I can embrace it and be joyful.

I choose joy.

A Life Fulfilled

The past year came and went in the blink of an eye.  Here we are already celebrating another new year.  New goals to reach, new plans to make, new resolutions to hopefully keep and not break.  On this first day of the new year, it seems the possibilities are endless.

Every year I pray for a specific word from God to guide our family throughout the next 365 days.  This year was no different, but this year seemed to take just a little longer to hear that word.  I remember so well when God revealed it to me and my confusion that came immediately after.

This year, in 2018, we are to live a life fulfilled.  As I was given this revelation and prayed about it some more, God began to clarify it.  After all, it was a statement He had given me rather than just a simple, understandable word. 

God wants us to live a life fulfilled, every single day.

We are to live a life to the FULLest.  We are to live a life FILLED with love, kindness, and positivity.  Live in the moment and be present.  Really take in and enjoy those special times with our family whether it's at school events, sports activities, or quiet moments at home. Craig and I need to grow and deepen our relationship even more.  We have been a couple for over 2 decades, but there is always more to learn about and from each other.  We need to put in the effort for friendships. Take time to nurture them and let them grow.  Sometimes our friendship circles will be small but they can be very special.  We need to be thankful for the gifts God has given us and use them in a pleasing way to Him.  We need to refine them and continually work at our craft.  We need to acknowledge we are all different and unique in those gifts and could never compare to someone else.

This will be a challenge because after all, we are human.  There will be some really rough days, some sad days, some days we wish would end quickly so we can awake to a fresh start again.  However, we need to start each day knowing God is giving us that day to make good choices.  We need to be thankful for all the blessings, big or small, that come our way.  When we face those trials, we need to acknowledge God is with us through every moment and perhaps even trying to reveal something amazing to us. 

Most importantly, we are to live a life fulfilled in His Word, His Love, His Peace.  God really wants us to grow closer to Him and connect with Him in all new ways.  Try new Bible studies, dig deeper during devotions, and take to heart the words that we read. 

I cannot quite put into words everything He has spoken to me for this next year.  There is so much and I am so excited.

God is giving us this life and wants us to enjoy it.  He wants us to be content.  He wants our lives to be fulfilled.